Tom Nolan: First UFC win was 'make or break' second, relieved to beat psychological adversity

LAS VEGAS – Tom Nolan positioned lots of strain on himself heading into his second UFC bout, however breathed a sigh of reduction after selecting up his first win within the promotion.

Nolan (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) confronted Victor Martinez within the characteristic prelim bout of UFC Combat Night time 241 on the UFC Apex. The Australian caught Martinez (13-6 MMA, 0-2 UFC) with a clear knee to the midsection, resulting in the TKO stoppage at 3:50 within the first spherical of an entertaining light-weight combat whereas it lasted.

The end result marked Nolan’s first UFC win, which got here after a disappointing stoppage loss in his January debut. The Dana White’s Contender Collection veteran felt his again was in opposition to the wall, and felt the strain of needing to get his hand raised.

“I battled by some adversity,” Nolan defined at a post-fight information convention. “I battled by my very own adversity mentally moving into. It’s annoying dropping your debut, you realize? You need to win your second combat. You would possibly get minimize otherwise you would possibly get fed a foul combat on brief timing. I had all these ideas moving into.

“That is all I do. That is my solely manner of making a living. So for me, it was actually make or break for this combat, and that’s lots of strain. I feel I dealt with it fairly nicely.”

Nolan, 24, has a pure benefit over most friends in his division, standing at 6-foot-3. The peak benefit performed into his gameplan in opposition to Martinez, however it was in the end be a knee in shut proximity that led to the top of the combat.

“I assumed it was going to go longer, to be trustworthy,” Nolan stated. “I truly anticipated a choice or a late, late end. However I’m completely happy it’s over early. I don’t receives a commission for time beyond regulation.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Combat Night time 241.